Increased fares for Brussels taxis on the way

A number of changes to regulations for taxi drivers in Brussels were announced yesterday, including a fare increase and the scrapping of a double fare outside the region.

The cost of travelling by taxi in Brussels is to go up by 20c per kilometre, bringing the new total to €2 per kilometre, the regional government has decided. The increase is a compensation for taxi drivers for the introduction of the new digital taxi metre, which earlier in the year led to taxi companies blockading the streets of the capital in protest.

The new metres will be introduced in early 2016, although the price increase for passengers is likely to come into force before the end of the current legislature in May this year, according to the office of Brussels transport minister Brigitte Grouwels. The cost of stepping into a taxi, currently €2.40, remains unchanged, as do the waiting charge (€30 per hour) and the €2 supplement for rides beginning after midnight.

This is the second time in less than a year that Brussels taxis have increased their tariffs; in May last year the cost per kilometre went up by 14c to €1.80.

The government has also decided to abolish the double tariff that operates outside of Brussels 19 districts. At the moment, the fare outside the Brussels-Capital Region is €2.70 per kilometre instead of €1.80. It will now become €2 as within the region.

“I believe firmly in the enormous potential for taxis in urban mobility,” said Grouwels, “with an emphasis on modern technology such as digital meters and credit card readers.”

In addition, the annual tax paid by taxis to the region will also be reduced, from €575 a year to €200. Among other measures agreed by the government are access to all bus lanes for taxis and the development of a new smartphone app to allow taxis to be reserved and rated by passengers.

photo courtesy CD&V